How to Verify if an Online Pharmacy Is Legitimate

There are many online pharmacies in the UK and it is important to understand how to know if an online pharmacy is safe. This is so you can keep your personal and payment information safe from potential fraudsters posing as online pharmacies. It is also to ensure that you get the right medicines you are ordering, at the right dose and that is safe for you. 

Ordering from an illegitimate pharmacy opens you to the risk of identity fraud, financial fraud or increases the risk of being sold counterfeit medicines (which not work or potentially harmful ingredient). 

This article will provide an overview on buying prescription medicine online safely. These steps generally include verifying that the online pharmacy you are using is legitimate by conferring with the official General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) register, before ordering the medicine. 

It also includes ensuring that an appropriate clinical consultation regarding your symptoms is done before a prescription-only medicines (POM) is issued and that a valid prescription is involved.

There are other signs that an online pharmacy is legitimate such as an official registration number clearly displayed which can be independently verified, clear contact details, and clear physical address and identifable methods on how patient details will be stored and safley protected, 

Meds for Less is not an online pharmacy, we are a online prescription and consultation service regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), however all the pharmacies we do work with are official and GPhC registered. 

Why Verifying an Online Pharmacy Matters

Checking that an online pharmacy is legitimate matters in order to protect you from unsafe medications, misleading information and fraudulent activities. In the UK, legitimate pharmacies must meet professional and legal standards for safe handling, dispensing, disposal and supply of medicines. 

Before ordering, you should check that the pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The GPhC register allows you to confirm that the online pharmacy is authorised to work in Great Britain and provides information about the pharmacy’s registration status. 

Verification of credentials is especially important before buying prescription-only medications (POMs) as these can only be supplied after an appropriate clinical consultation with an appropriate prescriber. Without these safeguards, these medications can be dangerous. Websites that promise prescription medications without these safeguards are likely to be fraudulent, and so are the medications you are receiving from them. 

Signs of a Legitimate Online Pharmacy

Before ordering medicines online, look for the following signs that indicate that a pharmacy is legitimate and operating safely. (Figure 1). 

• Valid prescription requirements are followed – a legitimate online pharmacy should supply prescription-only medicines (POMs) following an appropriate assessment by a qualified prescriber.
• Licensed pharmacists – The pharmacy should have appropriately licensed pharmacists and pharmacist technicians registered with the GPhC that are involved in the dispensation and supply of medicines.
• Transparent contact information: The website should clearly display its business name, physical address, telephone details and other relevant contact details
• Secure payments: Payment methods that a legitimate website uses should have clear-cut and appropriate safety measures to protect your information. 
• Clear privacy policy: An online pharmacy should clearly explain how your health information is collected, used, stored and protected. 
• Follows regulatory compliance – A legitimate pharmacy will be registered with a relevant UK regulator such as the General Pharmaceutical Council, and you will be able to independently confirm its registration with this register. 

Figue 1: Always look for signs of  a legitimate online pharmacy before ordering medicines from their website. 

How to Check an Online Pharmacy’s Licence and Registration

Before purchasing medicines from a pharmacy online, check the pharmacy against the official register for the country where it operates (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland). Registration will confirm that the pharmacy or healthcare professional is subject to the relevant regulatory requirements. Don’t rely solely on malleable factors such as logos displayed on a pharmacy’s website; search the regulator’s official register independently. 

The following is a table of How to verify if an online pharmacy in the UK and its 4 countries is legitimate. 

In the UK, the GPhC and PSNI regulate pharmacy and pharmacy professionals while the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency maintains a register of medicines that UK operators are licesned to sell online. 

Legitimate vs Fake Online Pharmacies

It is important to identify a legitimate online pharmacy, as opposed to a fraudulent one, and this section provides a table you can follow to help you do that. 

Warning Signs of Fake Online Pharmacies

Be cautious of the following signs, as they can indicate a fake online pharmacy. Do not buy, or be very cautious before buying, medicine from sites which display the following features. 

• No prescription is required to buy Prescription-only medications (POMs): The Website offers prescription-only medications without requiring a prescription or a valid clinical assessment.
• Unrealistically low prices: Medicines are advertised at prices that seem significantly lower than those offered by legitimate pharmacies, particularly when combined with pressure to buy quickly 
• Fake accreditation logos: The website displays regulatory or professional logos that cannot be independently verified through the relevant regulator’s official register.
• Missing contact information – There is no clear physical address, phone number or other reliable way to contact the pharmacy.
• Unsecured payment methods – The website requests payments through unusual, insecure or difficult-to-trace methods rather than established or secure payment services
• Spam advertising: You receive unsolicited emails, messages or pop-up notifications to buy medicines form this website and this particular website only.
• Unrealistic medical claims – Products described as guaranteed cures or no side effects or websites making claims inconsistent with established medical advice. 

If you are unsure about an online pharmacy, do not solely rely on the information provided on their website. Check registration independently using the relevant UK regulator’s official register before buying the medicines. 

Risks of Buying Medicines from Unverified Online Pharmacies

Buying medicines from an unverified online pharmacy can expose you to significant health risks, financial risks and security risks. Unlike regulated websites, unverified websites may not follow the standards required for safe prescribing, dispensing, and storing of medicines. These risks include:

• Counterfeit or poor-quality medications: You may receive medicines containing the wrong amount of the drug, no real medicine in the pill or a potentially harmful substance.
• Incorrect medicines or doses: Without an appropriate clinical assessment, you could receive a medicine or dose that is unsuitable for you
• Drug interactions and side effects: Medicines supplied without proper oversight can increase the risk of interactions with other medicines you may be taking or other medical conditions you may have. 
• Delayed or ineffective treatment: Taking an ineffective medicine or the wrong dose of a medicine can delay healing for your condition or perhaps even worsen it.
• Financial fraud: Fraudulent websites may take payments without supplying the medicine, charge unexpected fees or misuse payment information
• Privacy risks: Unverified websites may not adequately protect sensitive and personal health or payment information and may misuse these factors. 

How to Protect Your Personal and Financial Information When Ordering Medicines Online

Ordering medicines online involves the sharing of personal, health and payment information so it is important to take steps to protect your data. Before placing any order, check that the pharmacy is legitimate and uses secure methods to protect data. Checking the following things before buying medicines online:

• Verify the pharmacy: Check the pharmacy’s registration with the authorised UK register before providing personal or payment information
• The website uses a secure address: Most secure websites use a HTTPS address and a padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar. 
• Read the website’s privacy policy: Check how your personal and health information will be collected, used, stored and shared.
• Use  a secure payment method: Where possible, use established payment methods that provide appropriate security and fraud prevention. Your bank will usually detect if you are providing card details into a fraudulent website 
• Use strong and unique passwords for different webpages: Do not use the same password you have for sensitive logins into an online pharmacy website; even if your information is misused, it minimises the risk of a data breach. 
• Keep your devices secure: Keep your operating system, browser and security software up to date, particularly when entering health or financial information. 

If a website asks for unnecessary personal information, has unclear privacy practices or makes you uncomfortable while entering personal details, then stop before completing the purchase and verify the pharmacy independently. 

What to Do If You Suspect an Online Pharmacy Is Illegal

If you suspect that an online pharmacy is operating illegally or supplying unsafe medicines, avoid placing an order with that website or giving them any more personal or payment information. Instead, you can take the following steps to protect yourself and others.

• Stop using the website; do not purchase from that website or provide any personal or financial details until you independently verify that website. 
• Check its registration: Search the pharmacy on the relevant UK official register, such as the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency Register (MHRA) across the UK, the General Pharmaceutical Council Register (GPhC) for England, Wales and Scotland, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) register for Northern Ireland. 
• Report suspected illegal activity: The MHRA accepts reports about suspected illegal medicines and websites selling medicines illegally. You can report concerns through its official channels.
• Contact your bank: If you have already provided payment details or believe you have been defrauded, contact your bank or card provider and explain what has happened.
• Seek appropriate medical advice: If you have taken a medicine obtained from a website that you now believe is fraudulent, contact your pharmacist or GP or healthcare professional in A&E to explain what has happened and they can help you.

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